LIVE HERE

This is a city of momentum and energy with strong institutions
like Fortune 500 companies, urban universities and technical colleges,
hospitals, arts and civil rights organizations, and churches deeply rooted
in the community and on the front lines of positive change.
We love it here, and we know you will, too.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Over one million people live within 50 minutes of downtown
Little Rock. So, twelve central Arkansas counties and their
unique communities are united to compete as one common,
globally recognized brand – Little Rock. $2.2 billion new
capital investment, $518 million new annual payroll, and 15,480
jobs later, the results are indisputable and historically
unprecedented.

MEMBERSHIP

The Little Rock Regional Chamber is the principal business-driven
leadership organization responsible for fostering the economic
growth and development of the Little Rock region to ensure
that business and industry may operate profitably and enhance
the earning opportunities and quality of life for every citizen.
The chamber helps you maximize your business.

ADVOCACY

From City Hall to the halls of Congress, the Little Rock Regional
Chamber is the voice of business for the region, at all levels of government.
The chamber works to advance policies and legislation to create and sustain an
environment in which businesses thrive. We communicate constantly with elected
officials to be sure that your interests are protected and served.

Economic Development News

The Metro Little Rock Alliance (MLRA) has launched a new brand and website to market the 12-county region to corporate executives, site selection consultants and potential new residents as a prime location to do business and live in Central Arkansas.

The Little Rock Regional Chamber announced a new partnership with the local SCORE chapter of Little Rock. Little Rock SCORE is a resource partner of the Small Business Administration that provides free and confidential business counseling tailored to meet the needs of your small business. The chamber will host office hours for SCORE mentors to meet with small businesses and potential small businesses. SCORE mentors are seasoned and successful business owners who volunteer their time to guide other businesses.

CZ-USA, the U.S.-based affiliate of Czech firearms manufacturer Česká zbrojovka a.s. Uherský Brod (CZUB), announced today plans to locate their North American Headquarters and build a new manufacturing facility on approximately 73 acres at the Port of Little Rock. CZ-USA plans to implement a two-phase approach with an investment of up to $90 million and create some 565 jobs over a six-year period. CZ products are considered some of the highest-quality firearms in defense, competition and sport shooting around the world.

Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) and local officials today announced Little Rock has completed the Competitive Communities Initiative (CCI) evaluation that aims to ensure the city’s preparedness to successfully compete for jobs and investments.

The Little Rock Municipal Airport Commission, the governing body of Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport, has approved business terms that will allow AFTERGLOW Aircraft Solutions, an Arkansas-based company offering aircraft interior and paint refurbishments and detailing, to locate operations at the Little Rock airport. AFTERGLOW will lease space in an existing hangar, formerly occupied by Hawker Beechcraft, at the Airport Business Park, which is located to the west of the commercial terminal. Initially, AFTERGLOW will lease 11,871 square feet, and plans to expand to 31,925 square feet with a workforce of approximately 60.

In 2011, the citizens of Little Rock overwhelmingly passed a sales tax initiative for the community. As a part of the initiative, the Little Rock Port Authority received $10 million dollars to purchase land for industrial development and job creation. To date, the Port has expended approximately $5 million dollars and acquired 615 acres of land. Another 150 acres are currently ...

The Little Rock Regional Chamber is pleased to announce that Ben France has been named Vice President of Economic Development. In this capacity Ben will lead all economic development work for the chamber including new business recruitment as well as existing business expansion and retention. For the past year Ben has served as Director, Business Attraction and Expansion for the chamber. Prior to that, Ben spent five years as a Senior Project Manager in Business Development for the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC). His duties included managing corporate client new location and expansion site needs in Arkansas while also providing site selection and incentive negotiations with site location consultants across the world.

Immigrants in the Little Rock metro area contributed $2 billion to the region’s GDP, and paid $157.8 million in federal taxes and $83.8 million in state and local taxes, according to a new research brief released by New American Economy (NAE) in partnership with the Little Rock Regional Chamber and the City of Little Rock. The report was released at a press conference held at the Southwest Little Rock Community Center featuring Mayor Mark Stodola and Little Rock Regional Chamber President Jay Chesshir, among others.